Military eyeing press in Aceh
Teuku Agam Muzakkir and Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Lhokweumawe/Banda Aceh, Aceh
Ahead of the 27th anniversary of the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) on Dec. 4, the military is monitoring the press covering the war in the troubled province more closely, claiming the policy is "a preventative action".
Newly installed Aceh military operation commander Brig. Gen. George Toisutta said in Lhokseumawe on Monday that the decision to monitor press activities was taken due to concern over their safety while covering the event, because the press was exposed to various threats, including the possibility of being taken hostage by GAM rebels.
"We do not want to restrict the press in covering any events in Aceh, but I ask for some understanding. The press may be intimidated and I don't want to see another case of violence against the press like one currently faced by the RCTI crew," said the one-star general, referring to Ersa Siregar and Ferry Santoro, who have been held hostage by GAM rebels in East Aceh region since June 2003.
Toisutta, who took over the command last week from Maj. Gen. Bambang Darmono, further said that the military considered Dec. 4, the anniversary of the founding of GAM in 1976, as "an ordinary day" that did not require any "special preparations".
"We will not focus on intensifying operations to prevent the rebels from conducting ceremonies. Should we hold operations during that time, they will just be regular ones," Toisutta said.
Meanwhile, the situation in Aceh remains calm ahead of the GAM anniversary.
In the past five years, GAM held parades and flag-hoisting ceremonies to commemorate its anniversary. GAM also invited local and foreign journalists to its remote camps to cover the ceremonies held almost simultaneously across the province.
Teungku Jamaika, GAM spokesman for North Aceh, where there is a huge deployment of military troops, said that the movement's fighters would celebrate the anniversary and called on the Acehnese people to remain calm during the event.
"A massive deployment of government troops in our territory will not affect our spirit to celebrate the occasion. We hope the people will be able to continue their daily activities during the event without intimidation from government troops," he said.
Several GAM leaders, including their commanders-in-chief Muzakkir Manaf and Sofjan Dawood, are believed to be residing somewhere in North Aceh camps. Muzakkir and Sofjan Dawood are expected to preside over the anniversary ceremonies somewhere in the regency.
GAM rebels in the Pidie regency, meanwhile, decided to ban the press from covering the event for the sake of the safety of both journalists and GAM rebels.
The government declared martial law on May 19 in the province and launched an offensive involving 40,000 troops and police to wipe out GAM.
More than 1,000 guerrillas have been killed since then, while another 2,000 have been arrested or have surrendered and 485 weapons have been seized, the military claims. No top rebel leaders, however, have been arrested so far.
Meanwhile, Wahyu, a deputy GAM commander overseeing Kuta Raja region in Aceh Besar, along with his nine troops, surrendered to the local military and handed over a Colt pistol and 15 bullets.
"Wahyu is the first rebel leader to surrender to the military by handing over his weapons. We urge more rebels to do so," Aceh Besar military district commander Lt. Col. Joko Warsito said as quoted by Antara.